Sep 21, 2025
Cyanobacteria and Summer Blooms: A Growing Problem with a Nanobubble Solution
When summer arrives and temperatures climb, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs often undergo an unsettling transformation: they turn green, slimy, and sometimes even toxic. The culprits are cyanobacteria—commonly known as blue-green algae—which thrive in warm, nutrient-rich waters. These summer blooms are not just unsightly; they can release harmful toxins, deplete oxygen levels, and disrupt aquatic ecosystems, creating problems for wildlife, recreation, and even drinking water supplies.
Why Cyanobacteria Bloom in Summer
Cyanobacteria are ancient microorganisms that perform photosynthesis, much like plants. While they are a natural part of many freshwater ecosystems, human activity has fueled their overgrowth. Runoff from agriculture, lawn fertilizers, and untreated wastewater introduces excess nutrients—especially nitrogen and phosphorus—into lakes and rivers. Combined with warm temperatures, stagnant water, and abundant sunlight, these conditions create a perfect breeding ground for cyanobacteria.
During a bloom, cyanobacteria form dense surface scums, blocking light from penetrating deeper into the water. As they die and decompose, oxygen levels plummet, leading to fish kills and foul odors. Some species also produce cyanotoxins, which pose risks to humans and animals if ingested or inhaled. Municipalities often respond with costly treatments like chemical algaecides, but these provide only temporary relief and can harm non-target organisms.
Nanobubbles: A New Approach
One promising technology to combat cyanobacteria blooms is nanobubbles—ultra-fine gas bubbles, typically smaller than 200 nanometers in diameter. Unlike ordinary bubbles, nanobubbles behave in unique ways:
Long-lasting: They can remain suspended in water for weeks without rising and bursting.
High surface energy: They create localized oxidative stress, which can damage harmful microorganisms.
Oxygen delivery: Nanobubbles can efficiently increase dissolved oxygen levels in water, counteracting the low-oxygen conditions that fuel cyanobacterial dominance.
When infused with oxygen, nanobubbles improve water quality by stabilizing dissolved oxygen throughout the water column. This benefits aerobic bacteria that naturally break down organic matter, reducing the nutrient load that cyanobacteria depend on. In addition, some studies show that nanobubbles infused with ozone or air can selectively suppress harmful cyanobacteria without damaging other aquatic life.
How Nanobubbles Help Restore Balance
The effectiveness of nanobubbles lies in their multifaceted impact:
Suppressing Cyanobacteria Growth
Oxygen-rich conditions favor healthy algae and aquatic plants over cyanobacteria, which often thrive in low-oxygen environments.
The micro-oxidative effects of nanobubbles can destabilize cyanobacteria cell membranes.
Improving Water Quality
Higher dissolved oxygen reduces foul odors and supports aquatic biodiversity.
Enhanced microbial activity helps break down organic matter more efficiently.
Reducing Reliance on Chemicals
Unlike algaecides, nanobubbles don’t leave harmful residues.
They support long-term ecosystem resilience rather than short-term fixes.
Looking Ahead
As climate change brings warmer summers and more nutrient runoff from extreme rainfall events, cyanobacteria blooms are likely to become more frequent and severe. Communities, water managers, and researchers are exploring sustainable solutions to this challenge. Nanobubble technology offers a promising, environmentally friendly tool to restore balance to freshwater ecosystems and reduce the risks of toxic blooms.
The future of clean, healthy lakes may very well be built on something nearly invisible: bubbles too small to see, but powerful enough to shift the balance of entire ecosystems.